Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said that there are no members of the military or communists in the opposition group Tindig Pilipinas, as he also revealed that it is now gaining thousands of members.
“Hindi po tayo nagre-recruit, pinapalawak lang natin. Ang maliwanag lang dito, walang kasaling komunista, walang uniformed personnel dito,” he said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
(We do not recruit, we just expand it. What’s clear here is there are no communists, there are no uniformed personnel here.)
Tindig Pilipinas, which Trillanes said is composed of around a hundred organizations including the Liberal Party (LP), the Magdalo Partylist, and non-government organizations, only aims to promote democracy in the country, he said.
To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte earlier accused the senator, the two political parties, and the Communist Party of the Philippines of plotting an ouster against him.
READ: Duterte ‘sure’ Yellows, Reds, Magdalo plotting to overthrow him
Trillanes also revealed that the group has been working with some Catholic bishops to push for the group’s advocacy.
“Let’s just say that we are working closely with some bishops na mas vocal at aktibo (who are more vocal and active),” he said while noting that the group is also open for other religions.
“Ang matinding hamon ng Tindig Pilipinas ay kung paano mumulatin ang mga Pilipino (The greatest challenge for Tindig Pilipinas is how to open the eyes of Filipinos),” he added.
Trillanes said the group will be holding a Mass at the De La Salle University along Taft Avenue, Manila on September 21 with Vice President Leni Robredo.
The senator was not sure, however, whether he can attend the Mass as he still fears of being arrested following the President’s revocation of his amnesty and ordering his arrest. /muf